A former member of the House of Representatives representing Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency in the 9th Assembly, Israel Sunny-Goli, has submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In his petition, he calls for an investigation into a multi-million-naira investment by the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board.
Sunny-Goli’s petition focuses on the disbursement of funds for three major projects: Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Limited, Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, and Brass Petroleum Product Terminal Limited. These projects, located in Brass Local Government Area, were initiated during the tenure of the immediate past Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Simbi Wabote.
The petition comes amidst a dispute between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and Wabote regarding the investments made by NCDMB during Wabote’s tenure. Lokpobiri alleged that NCDMB invested substantial amounts of money in non-existent projects in Brass Island, while Wabote cited litigation issues surrounding the investors of Atlantic Refinery as the reason for delays.
Sunny-Goli’s petition aims to increase pressure on the EFCC to investigate these investments. According to the petitioner, NCDMB invested $200 million in Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Limited for the establishment of methanol plants and processing infrastructure. Additionally, $35 million was invested in the Atlantic Refinery project, which was intended to be a modular refinery with associated facilities at the Brass Free Trade Zone (FTZ).
The investment in Brass Petroleum Product Terminal Limited was for the establishment of a petroleum product terminal with storage tanks and loading facilities.
Expressing disappointment in the current state of the projects, Sunny-Goli emphasized their potential to create employment opportunities for unemployed youths and increase government revenue.
In his petition, Sunny-Goli urged the EFCC to promptly investigate the projects and prosecute anyone found culpable of misappropriating funds, in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
